From Our Bureau
19th April 2020
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday announced the extension of the lockdown in Telangana till May 7, in view of the spread of COVID-19 cases across the State. He also ruled out any relaxation of the restrictions in the State although the Central Government had issued certain guidelines for allowing a few sectors to resume work from April 20. He disclosed that the State Cabinet would take a call on May 5 on the issue of continuance or otherwise of the lockdown beyond May 7.
The Chief Minister said that the State Cabinet met for almost six hours and discussed the situation, including the present status of the pandemic, in the State. The Government took a clear and unambiguous decision to extend the lockdown based on the ground realities and the need for stricter measures to check the spread of the virus.
He said that the Cabinet felt that any easing of the curbs would prove detrimental to the massive efforts made by the State in the last four weeks to contain the virus. Hence, the guidelines that were imposed when the lockdown was first announced would be continued with the same vigour, including night curfew, social distancing norms, ban on mass gatherings and religious congregations etc. Though the Central government announced extension of the nation-wide lockdown till May 3, the State would enforce the lockdown till May 7, he pointed out.
The Chief Minister announced that the distribution of 12 kgs rice per person and disbursement of cash assistance of Rs 1,500 per family would be continued during May also for the 87.50 lakh white ration card holders in the State. The cash doles would be transferred into the bank accounts of the ration card holders in the first week of May. He also pointed out that the 40 lakh Aasara pensioners would get the full amount for May. The migrant workers in the State would also get 12 kgs of rice and Rs 500 cash assistance. (eom)
